Brazil agency opens probe of SBM-Petrobras oil-ship contracts

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's
controller-general has opened an investigation into the lease by
SBM Offshore NV, a Dutch company, of oil production
ships to state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA
, widening a probe into allegations of bribery by SBM.

In February, allegations from a former SBM employee came to
light suggesting SBM paid $250 million in bribes, with $139
million of that paid in Brazil.

The investigation by the controller-general, known as the
CGU, follows an investigation at Petrobras. The internal
Petrobras probe found no evidence of wrongdoing.

The CGU announced its probe Wednesday in a statement in the
Diario Official, Brazil's publication of official news. The
announcement made no mention of Petrobras or SBM.

"The Petrobras investigation was well done, especially if we
consider the restriction of having to complete their work in 45
days," Jorge Hage, head of the CGU, said in a statement. "The
final Petrobras report will be useful as a starting point for
our work."

Petrobras also faced limits on how and where it could
investigate because its legal powers are limited, he said.

The CGU investigation, which will take 30 days, adds to
growing pressure on Brazil's government over alleged
mismanagement and bribery at Petrobras, where Brazilian
President Dilma Rousseff was chairwoman of the board of
directors from 2003 to 2010.

Opposition politicians have seized on alleged cost overruns
at Brazilian and U.S. refineries and on the SBM case to attack
Rousseff's record as an administrator ahead of the October
general elections.

Lawmakers have obtained signatures from a sufficent number
of legislators to install a formal probe. They have also set up
a panel to accompany investigations of the SBM-Petrobras case.
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